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November 16, 2015

I wrote an article for Lila Jean Vintage magazine

There are few things that I love more in this world than travel, my own country of Canada, or vintage, so when I get chance to combine these three passions, I am one extremely happy lass.

Just such an opportunity arose earlier this year when Naomi, the wonderful founder and editor, or the relatively newly launched Australian vintage history and lifestyle magazine Lila Jean Vintage contacted me to ask if I'd like to write a piece for them on some of the best and most beloved vintage shops in Canada.

I said yes faster than the speed of light and then set to work pondering just which five - as per the article's guidelines - would be included here. Canada does not, by any stretch of the imagination, have scads of vintage shops and sadly we seem to lose more than we acquire with each passing year (case in point, it turns out that one in Ontario I had wanted to included in my article had closed its doors just a few months ago).

Canada is also a huge country (geographically, we're the second largest in the world) and as such I haven't yet had a chance to visit all those that do presently exist between its vast borders. I wanted to include some that I had (such as A Vintage Affair in Calgary and Mintage in Vancouver, respective) and others that my fellow Canadian vintage fans had praised to the moon and back.

{If you flip through issue number four of Lila Jean magazine, pictured above, you will find my piece on five of the best vintage clothing shops in Canada, as well as oodles of other engaging, delightful vintage travel, shopping, and lifestyle related content.}

The finished article spans two pages of Issue 4 of Lila Jean magazine, which is available for purchase from the magazine's website. As this issue's theme was all about travel and the global vintage community, you will also find similar guides to some of the best vintage shops in the US (penned by Emma from The Fiercest Lilliputian) and the UK (written by Fleur from Diary of a Vintage Girl).

In addition, this issue of Lila Jean includes an article with none other than Dita Von Teese herself, many wonderful vintage photographs and stories pertaining to yesteryear travel, and a smattering of other well written, enjoyable content

Though issue four is the first of Lila Jean's that I've had the pleasure of reading and holding in my hands, I can tell you based on that experience alone that it is a quality, one might even say artisanal publication with a great deal of heart.

It's focus - at least in this edition - is/was less on "just" fashion, fads, or trivial topics, and more of the soul of vintage and on the importance of keeping the past alive in today's ever changing, ever more technologically driven world.

Lila Jean is an elegant quarterly publication in which you're apt to see family names from the online vintage world, as well as hear stories and firsthand accounts from venerable older contributors who share their own beautiful memories of days gone by.

Each edition of Lila Jean Vintage magazine is like a little, fantastic book unto itself and I am absolutely honoured to have been able to contribute to the most recent edition of the excellent, valuable Australian contribution to the close-knit world of vintage lifestyle magazines.

That is so immensely kind of you to say, sweet CiCi. Thank you!!! It was hard to narrow the list to five, even with the somewhat sparse number of such shops in Canada, but that I did and I'm really happy with how the finished piece came together.

It 'a great news! I am happy for this your precious collaboration! I believe very challenging, Canada is so great, you're right! And then the vintage stores often have a short shelf life here in Italy .. I go crazy for fashion magazines, travel and culture .. this is a real treat! In a couple of weeks in my city there will be the "Pisa Vintage 'market, art installations and stage dances like the lindy hop and boogie. Meanwhile, I dream of this cover, Egypt, the pyramids, always so charming and mysterious ....Hello Jessica! A happy week

It's fascinating to hear that in a country with such an incredibly storied and amazing history, and, in general, quite a reverence for the past, vintage shops often have a challenging time making a go of it in Italy as well.

The Pisa Vintage Market sounds amazing!!! If you go, I hope that you have a splendid time and are able to return home with some fabulous new (old!) treasures, dear Serena.

You're right, it may seem strange. But it is difficult to find vintage dresses original and well kept, the period from the 20s to the late '40s for us Italians were disastrous. I have some little treasure of my grandmother, sooner or later you'll show them, I promise! vintage stores are clothes of the '70s and' 80s, but the quality is not great and for me it is not true vintage. I hope for this opportunity to find something beautiful!

Thank you very much, sweet Lorena. It definitely is!!! Interestingly, mere seconds ago I received their email newsletter and it announced that they're be switching to a digital (only, I believe) format, so it will be really interest to see how this wonderful vintage related publication continues to unfold as time goes on.

Big hugs,♥ Jessica

*PS* I visited your terrific new blog and tried to leave a comment, but no matter how many times I clicked on the post title and also on the tiny comment "speech bubble", the page (in three different browsers) wouldn't present me with a comment form (it just kept reloading the post itself). I only mention this in case you weren't aware of it and others were running into that issue as well. There are always bugs like that, I find, when you change blogs/blog templates, it's super normal/common.

It's so cool that you've seen the wonders of Egypt in person, dear Beate. I really hope that you'e able to return and take a relaxing boat ride down the Nile. That sounds like an almost surreal experience!

Congratulations, dear Jessica! I really am sure that you were the right girl to write such an article for a vintage magazine, not only because your expertise, but also because of your sensitive soul, which I like very much! I agree with you "not only fashion, but the importance of keeping the past alive in today's ever changing, ever more technologically driven world". I TOTALLY agree with you! I hope you have a very nice week!DenisesPlanet.com

Ooo, so cool! Congratulations!For a moment I thought, "THERE ARE VINTAGE STORES IN EGYPT?! WHERE?!" But then I realized it's an issue about travel stories, too. Oh well. I'm still probably going to buy a copy to check it out!

I really think that you'll enjoy and get a lot out of Lila Jean, if you pick up a copy of this beautiful publication, dear Emileigh. It's appealing mix of historical fact/memories and the vintage lifestyle scene today is fresh and straight up the alley of bloggers like us.

Thank you so much, sweet Kate. It really was the absolute ideal writing assignment for me and I'm still glowing with happiness about it (and I want to visit the stores mentioned in it that I haven't been to yet more than ever now - posts will definitely ensue if/when a visit to them ever happens).

Thank you very much, Ally! Please let me know where you're headed the next time you're on this side of the 49th and I will share as much info as to the vintage/thrifting scene as possibly can with you about that part of the country. I know BC, Alberta and Ontario best, having lived in those three provinces, but try to keep tabs on the whole country when it comes to vintage/thrifting, so I should be able to help provide some "must visit" shops in most parts of this vast nation.

That's such a great idea for an issue! That's really a big part of the fun exploring vintage, seeing all the different ways people shop and scout for vintage in other countries. It's awesome that you got to participate!

Isn't it though? I hope that they continue to feature similar guides to other countries in future editions. As someone who adores both vintage and traveling, I find these kinds of pieces to be wildly helpful and sometimes even the sort of thing that can launch a whole trip unto itself.

It definitely was, dear Mim. I've blessed to have been interviewed by numerous magazines in recent years, but I hadn't been on the article writing side of things in eons (not since my freelance and ghost writing days back in my early 20s) and this was certainly the first piece I've ever penned for a publication about Canadian vintage shops, so it was a total blast to write.

Good for you! Congratulations on this seriously cool endeavor. Though this Mag sounds remotely familiar, i don't think I've heard of it, and therefore am excited to maybe give it a try in the near future (especially if it has your writing in it)!I'm just such a fan of you :)

Thank you very much, sweet dear. I suspect that you would absolutely, positively adore Lila Jean and I really hope you're able to check out a copy. I received word on the same day my post went live this week that they're switching to a digital only (I believe) publication, so hopefully that will make this magazine even more accessible to the vintage loving community.

I hope you're able to as well, lovely lady. It was so (!!!) hard to narrow down my choices, even in a country that isn't exactly overflowing with vintage shops and should Lila Jean ever approach me for a second installment, I'll have at least five more shops ready to go (assuming they're still in business).

I'm Jessica, a lifelong lover of all things antique and vintage, especially those from the 1930s, 40s and 50s.

This blog is my visual scrapbook in which I record and share my thoughts on the multitude of sources, people and products that inspire and feed a modern gal's addiction to the past. I also post about the vintage clothes, hairstyles and make-up looks that I adore wearing.

Stay a spell and have a blast as we explore the incomparably fantastic world of vintage history and fashion together.

All images used on this site are credited to their original posters/creators/sources,
however if at any time you would prefer not to see one of your images here, please email me and I'll take it down right away.

PS...I just wanted to say thank you very much for visiting and to tell you that you're equal parts awesome and beautiful.